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Long Beach could join protest over anti-gay laws in Russia

Long Beach may lodge a protest next week over Russia’s anti-gay laws and urge its sister city, Sochi, the 2014 Winter Olympics host, to join the growing demonstration against the discriminatory policies.

The City Council will consider a request Tuesday that would direct Acting City Attorney Charles Parkin to prepare a resolution condemning Russian laws that prohibit “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations” and allow the government to arrest and detain “pro-gay” foreigners for up to 14 days before fining and deporting them.

It also asks Sister Cities of Long Beach Inc. to work with the Human Relations Commission and the Center Long Beach to begin a dialogue to address human rights violations in Russia.

The motion was written by Councilman James Johnson and co-sponsored by Vice Mayor Robert Garcia and Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske.

Johnson said it’s Long Beach’s duty to let Russia know the laws, which prohibit gay people from showing public displays of affection, are unacceptable.

“As Americans, we believe all people across the world have freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom to love who you want,” Johnson said.

“What you have here is gut level prejudice on behalf of some, not all Russian people, and demagogues are taking advantage of that.”

A MoveOn.org petition requesting that Long Beach suspend its sister city relationship with Sochi had collected about 800 signatures by Wednesday.

Since 1990, Long Beach has been sister cities with Sochi, a coastal community along the eastern shore of the Black Sea.

David Zanatta, president of Sister Cities of Long Beach, said the organization’s charter prohibits the group from making political statements.

“With that said, the entire program is a people-to-people program that stands for freedom for everyone,” Zanatta said.

Closing communications with Sochi would be counterproductive, he argued.

“If we shut it down, sever it, then we’re doing the same thing Russia’s doing with this issue on the table,” Zanatta said.